Committee Charge

History of the Committee

The Online Discussion Forum committee started in the 2005-2006 year and was formed from the consolidation of previous committees, including Online Book Discussion.

Committee Composition and Terms of Office

Chair (one year term)

Committee Members (one year term)

Committee Purpose

To offer online participation to all members, including those unable to attend Midwinter and Annual Meetings. Discussions will be held on the NMRT-L email list. The committee will also investigate other ways of communicating. Summaries of monthly discussion topics will be posted online.

Major Responsibilities

Suggest and set topics for the monthly NMRT-L discussion

Solicit topic suggestions from the Online Discussion Forum Committee

Lead monthly discussion on the NMRT-L email list

Investigate new ways of supporting online discussion and networking through the year and at the Midwinter and Annual conferences

Investigate the use of the ALA Online Committees

Procedures Used to Accomplish Major Responsibilities

Discuss topics within the committee, and appoint a committee member to begin that month’s selected topic on NMRT-L.

All committee members to post, lead and monitor discussion, and add comments where needed to continue the discussion. Designated committee member for each topic to keep track of the topic’s direction and post follow-up questions where required.

Contact People for Accomplishing Committee Objective

NMRT Board Liaison, Leadership Director

NMRT Web Committee

Reminders and Helpful Hints

The committee primarily works virtually via email.

Timetable of Activities

July

Review files from previous years. *Establish contact with committee members.

August

Update handbook entry if required.

September

As needed, keep committee members informed of ideas, suggestions, problems, and plans.

Submit planning report.

Discuss and agree on all topics for the monthly NMRT-L discussions. Each month's discussion topic will have a designated moderator responsible for initating the topic on NMRT-L.

Finalize an October - May calendar of topics, with assigned moderators.

Committee chair will send out calendar of topics to NMRT-L, with an introductory email about the upcoming discussion series.

October-May

Lead discussions each month on NMRT-L. A discussion thread should be initiated at the start of each month, October - May, by the designated moderator.

Submit committee progress report (February)

June

Organize files, consider problems in the past year so that suggestions for improvement may be made to the next committee chair, and transfer files to the new chair.